If I were a reporter and you were a photographer

[irish_only]

and you were at the hunting ban protest in Parliament Square. You show me some really good pics of police using unnecessary force. I say thanks, lets keep quiet about these for now, because I’m halfway through another really good story and just need a bit more info. I touch base with one of my contacts in police force and show pics. We have a bit of a chat on the qt, and I get my info for good story. Pics of hunting protest disappear into the ether. I pay the photographer some cash (more than he would get normally) to get rid of his pics. Meanwhile I ‘further’ my relationship with police contact, which enables further top stories. Handling of protesters then passed to Independent Police Complaints Commission. I promise no pics, get even better leads for more stories. IPCC find police not guilty of unnecessary force in dealing with hunt ban protesters.
Great.
My career is on the up.
Police squeaky clean.
Hunting supporters are naughty violent thugs who invited being smacked on the heads with truncheons.

Sorted.

 

[Alec Swan]

i_o,

when it comes to the media, and much else in life, I believe half of what I see, and nothing which I hear or read!

Alec.

 

[oakash]

Well said, Irish only: I suspect - unfortunately - that your interpretation is only too true!

As one of the many who were there and saw what can only be described as excessive violence being inflicted by the police riot squads who seemed to me untrained and out of control, it has always remained a source of puzzlement as to why a proper investigation was never made.

 

[irish_only]

i_o,

when it comes to the media, and much else in life, I believe half of what I see, and nothing which I hear or read!

Alec.

Couldn't agree more Alec, the only paper that comes through my door is a local freebie, and I treat myself to the Saturday Telegraph when lounging in my 5* caravan when I can escape.

My point is, I was there. On the sidelines as part of my then job. I watched in horror as innocent people got battered because they were being pushed forward into the barriers by the crowd behind them. I swa respectable people walking out from the crowd with blood pooring down their heads. I watched a DVD that someone made of the days events.

And the Met police didn't over-react?